ScreenSkills and 4Skills, Channel 4’s nationwide training and development programme, have published new research on the UK screen industries’ behind-the-scenes workforce.
Conducted by Ampere Analysis, Sizing Up the Future: Forecasting the Screen Workforce, profiles the current film, television, animation, children’s, VFX and post-production workforce, as well as providing a three-year forecast for those working behind the scenes across the UK screen industry.
It finds:
There is high capacity in the screen industry workforce
- Updated and improved modelling shows the UK off-screen crew workforce is estimated to comprise 244,500 – 252,000 individuals in 2025.
- Large-scale film has seen a 15% rise in roles between 2023 and 2025, bolstering production in the sector.
Industry investment, training, and a previously buoyant sector have forged a strong, talented workforce. This provides a platform for potential further growth of the screen industry in the UK which already contributes roughly £24 billion in GVA to the UK economy per year.
Market conditions risk a loss of talent which could harm the future prosperity and growth of the screen sector.
- The workforce is found to be under-employed, working at just 50% – 55% of the estimated capacity which compares to 80-90% during the post-boom period in 2022.
- UK content output has declined by 13% over 2022-2025, driven by a decline in first-run & renewal TV commissions over 2022-2025.
- The baseline forecast estimates that the UK will need an increase of +3% in active productions over 2025-2028 to maintain 2025 levels of production roles.
Low commissioning and utilisation make it harder to retain and develop the most-skilled talent. Failure to address this could undermine the long-term competitiveness of the UK screen industry.
Maximising emerging opportunities can secure the future prosperity of the screen industry and its workforce.
- The researchers’ modelling which uses the latest data to make projections based on a range of conditions – including BBC charter renewal, investment and tax incentives -predicts a baseline forecast of 1.6% increase in production between by 2028. A favourable scenario could increase UK production by 12% by 2028 but unfavourable conditions could lead to a 5.5% fall.
- Over the next three years, large-budget television is forecast to grow – leading to an increase in roles by 10% in the sub-sector.
- AI may affect up to 80% of production roles to varying degrees of impact by 2028 but there is a small window of opportunity to futureproof the workforce now.
Building on the success of existing programmes to attract, retain and develop the best talent secures the long-term prosperity of the screen industry. It is imperative the government’s creative sector jobs plan and wider skills and employment reforms offer a chance to further harness the talent and opportunities in the screen industries.
Laura Mansfield, CEO ScreenSkills said, “The UK screen industry is a global leader but it continues to face many pressures, as our latest report highlights. While there are signs of recovery particularly in large-scale film and TV, which should be celebrated, there are real challenges elsewhere and many of our highly skilled, talented workforce remain under-employed.
“It’s therefore vital that as well as supporting emerging talent, we seek to retain, reskill and develop our existing and brilliant workforce who work so expertly behind the scenes to produce world class content and ScreenSkills will continue to support the industry as it evolves in working collectively to adapt and flex to achieve this goal.
“This report provides clarity in uncertain times to allow for the sector and government to plan for the future, with a view to driving the long-term success of the UK’s world-leading screen industries.”
In response to the report’s findings, ScreenSkills will continue to invest in initiatives that help retain, develop and futureproof the workforce. This includes AI learning and upskilling, and programmes such as Make a Move, Leaders of Tomorrow, Advanced Leadership and Management Training, Coaching Support for Unscripted TV, the Film Producers Progression Plan, Job Shares and bursaries to remove barriers to progression.
Kevin Blacoe, Head of Channel 4’s Partnerships & Skills, added: “This report underlines something we see across the industry every day: the UK’s screen sector is packed with talented people, so retaining and developing that talent is critical to its long-term success.
“That’s why, through 4Skills, we’ve reached more than 180,000 people across the UK since 2020, creating opportunities at every stage of the talent pipeline – from inspiring young people through 4Schools and work experience, to supporting freelancers, production talent and independent production companies across the Nations and Regions.
“In 2025 alone, 4Skills reached more than 50,000 people and created 200 industry jobs. We have also increased our focus on career progression through initiatives such as Accelerate, our £6 million programme supporting mid- and senior-level talent outside London, ensuring skilled professionals can advance their careers without leaving the communities and creative clusters where they are based.”
Neil Hatton, Chief Executive, UK Screen Alliance, said: “The Sizing Up Report is an important snapshot of where our industry’s workforce is at a crucial moment, and importantly where it’s going. It highlights the need for continued investment into skills pathways in all areas, but especially for post-production, visual effects and animation, where eroding budgets are placing immense pressures on employers trying to maintain a highly skilled workforce with limited strategic skills development support.”
In 2025 ScreenSkills published the pilot report, Sizing Up: Workforce Composition and Capacity in the Screen Industries (also an Ampere Analysis report for ScreenSkills and 4Skills) followed by the Powering Production in April 2026, as part of its ongoing commitment to providing the industry with comprehensive, consistent skills research.
